Beware suspicious emails, says HMRC

A WARNING has been issued to people living in Ashbourne not to fall victim to email scams.

The office of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed that taxpayers reported nearly 80,000 tax-rebate ‘phishing’ emails across the UK last year, which promise a tax refund in exchange for personal, credit card or banking details.

The investigators have warned people who respond risk opening their account to fraud and having details sold on to organised criminal gangs.

Gareth Lloyd, head of digital security for HMRC said: “HMRC does not email customers about tax refunds - we only ever contact customers who are genuinely due tax back in writing, by post.

“If anyone receives an email offering a tax rebate and claiming to be from HMRC, please send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.

“HMRC does everything it can to ensure customers are safe online and we are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to target the criminals behind this serious crime.”